As she was raised in exile, never staying long as one place, Daenerys has never truly known a place to call home. Though she describes the fragrance of the Western Market at Vaes Dothrak with smelling "of home", they in fact remind of her her days spent in several of the Free Cities as a small child.[23] Among the Dothraki, she feels safe, loved and hopeful for the first time.[28] The house with the red door in Braavos, where she lived until she was about five years old, has come to symbolize her lost childhood,[1][23] and she frequently wishes to return there.[29][11][30][31] Though she has never seen Westeros and cannot remember Dragonstone, she believes that the Iron Throne is her by rights, as Viserys's heir, and that ruling the Seven Kingdoms is her duty. Daenerys abhors slavery[32] and is willing to put the needs of her people before her own desires.[25]

Daenerys loves the sea, as it makes her feel free, as well as the sailors and their songs and stories.[21] She also loves to read children's stories and songs from the Seven Kingdoms about hall and handsome heroes.[29] She enjoys heat, preferring her baths scalding hot.[1][33]

Daenerys sometimes dresses in Dothraki garb; a painted vest[34] and riding leathers,[34] while going about barefoot,[34] with her hair oiled[34][33] and her skin sun-browned.[33] Her other Dothraki attire includes silk or horsehair pants, woven grass sandals, a medallion belt, and her painted vest.[18][21][26] She often wears silver bells in her braided hair per Dothraki custom, one for each of her victories.[18][24][3][36] Daenerys also owns a Qartheen gown which leaves one breast bare,[37] several Ghiscaritokars,[11][38] and a musty-smelling hrakkar cloak.[2]

History

Daenerys is the youngest child of King Aerys II Targaryen and his sister-wife, Queen Rhaella. Daenerys was conceived during the last month of Robert's Rebellion, the war which ended House Targaryen's reign over the Seven Kingdoms. Shortly thereafter, her mother was sent with the young prince Viserys to the family ancestral seat of Dragonstone to escape the rebel army which was marching towards King's Landing. Daenerys was born nine months after their flight, while a great storm raged above Dragonstone, sinking what remained of the Targaryen fleet; for this reason she is known as "Daenerys Stormborn".[1] Her mother died in labor,[1] but not before naming her.[39]

The war had been lost shortly after Rhaella had fled the city, after which Robert I Baratheon had claimed the throne. With Aerys, his eldest son Rhaegar, and Rhaegar's young children Rhaenys and Aegon dead, Daenerys and her older brother Viserys were the only known living Targaryen heirs. As Viserys had been crowned king on Dragonstone by their mother before her death,[40] Daenerys received the title "Princess of Dragonstone" as Viserys's heir.[1] Robert's brother, Stannis, had built a new fleet for the Baratheon's, and was planning to assault Dragonstone. With the Targaryen fleet destroyed by the storm during which Daenerys had been born, the garrison at Dragonstone planned to sell the Targaryen children to Robert. However, before they could act on this plan, Ser Willem Darry and several other loyal retainers rescued the children and smuggled them into exile, sailing to the Free City of Braavos. There, they lived for years in a house with a red door, where Daenerys had her own room, and a lemon tree underneath her window. Willem was old and sickly, but Daenerys remembers that he always treated her kindly.[1] When Daenerys was five years old, Willem fell sick and slowly wasted away.[41] After his death, the servants he had hired stole all they could.[1] The young Targaryens were put out of the house a while after. As they were forced out, Daenerys wept.[1]

Viserys and Daenerys left Braavos, and wandered the Free Cities for years. They visited nearly all the Free Cities, including Myr, Tyrosh, Qohor, Volantis, and Lys,[1] and returned to Braavos at least once.[21] While at first they were welcomed by magisters and archons and merchant princes, with time their interests in the last Targaryens decreased. Daenerys and Viserys had to sell their last few treasures, and eventually their mother's crown.[1] Selling their mother's crown took the last of Viserys's joy, leaving only rage.[42] Daenerys remembers how Viserys once feasted the Golden Company, hoping they would take up his cause, but to on avail.[17] Considering himself to be the rightful ruler, Viserys grew bitter and obsessed with the birthright he had been denied. Daenerys was a frequent target for his frustrations. He had never forgiven her for their mother's death in childbirth, and frequently warned her not to "wake the dragon" by angering him.[1] Once, when Daenerys and Viserys were on their way to Braavos by ship, Daenerys expressed to her brother how fine it would be to be a sailor. Angry, Viserys twisted her hair until she cried.[21] Because Viserys had often told her that their line must be "kept pure", Daenerys had grown up always believing that she would marry Viserys once she came of age.[1]

Though Viserys's growing bitterness made their relationship more troubled, Daenerys also has fond memories of her brother from times when he had not yet been so angry. He let her crawl into bed with him and told her stories about the Seven Kingdoms,[21] about their family[21] and their history,[1][30] their dragons,[34] and Robert's Rebellion.[1][28] Almost everything Daenerys knew about Westeros she learned from Viserys, making her feel as if she knew what it was like without ever having been there.[23] Viserys was intent on reclaiming their father's throne, and promised Daenerys a thousand times that he would take her back to Westeros,[23] and that their lives would be much better once he had.[21] Viserys also told her about siege towers,[36] and the Faith of the Seven.[29]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

MagisterIllyrio Mopatis arranges a marriage between the powerful DothrakiKhalDrogo and Daenerys, in return for the promise of an army for Viserys to conquer the Iron Throne with. Though Daenerys does not want the marriage, Viserys is insistent.[1] Daenerys and Drogo are wed outside of the walls of Pentos. At her wedding, Daenerys receives multiple bride gifts, including three petrified dragon eggs from Magister Illyrio, three handmaidens (Irri, Jhiqui, and Doreah) from her brother, and a magnificent silver filly from Drogo. She is frightened by the seemingly barbaric Dothraki culture and has absolutely no way of communicating with Drogo, as they do not speak each other's languages. After the wedding ceremony is over, Drogo leads Daenerys away from the khalasar to consummate their marriage. Daenerys is terrified, but Drogo proves to be surprisingly tender and considerate. He lets Daenerys know that he understands one word in her tongue ("no"), and touches her gently and gradually. Only after she gives him her consent, they have sex.[13]

The day after the wedding, the khalasar leaves Pentos. Although she is accompanied by both Viserys and the exiled knight Ser Jorah Mormont, who has sworn his sword to Viserys, Daenerys feels lonely. Her entire body hurts from spending her days on horseback, and her nights with Drogo. On the night that Daenerys decides she cannot go on anymore, she dreams about a black dragon. The flames of the dragon cleanse her and make her feel strong and new and fierce. From that night onwards, life among the Dothraki begins to come more easily to her. She begins to enjoy her surroundings, and grows more confident. She also dares for the first time ever to fight back against Viserys when he attacks her in a rage. She shoves him away, realizes that Viserys is a pitiful thing, and would make a terrible king. When she discusses this with Jorah Mormont, she is shocked to learn how badly Jorah thinks about Viserys. When Drogo arrives in her tent that night to take his pleasure, Daenerys leads him outside, as the Dothraki believe that everything of importance happens must be done beneath the bare sky. Daenerys initiates sex with Drogo, and her new-found confidence and strength mark the beginning of a loving relationship between them.[34]

The khalasar travels to Vaes Dothrak. They pass through Ghoyan Drohe, Norvos, Qohor, Vaes Khadokh, and southern Sarnor.[43] On the far end of the Dothraki sea, on her fourteenth nameday, Daenerys reveals that she is pregnant.[34] The khalasar arrives at Vaes Dothrak, and Mormont informs Daenerys about the chances the Dothraki would have against the Westerosi armies. That evening, Daenerys and Viserys argue. When he grabs her, she hits him with a belt, and orders him to leave.[33]

In Westeros, King Robert I Baratheon has learned of Daenerys's marriage to Drogo from Jorah Mormont, who is in the employment of Lord Varys, Robert's master of whisperers. Though his Hand of the King, Lord Eddard Stark, protests against the notion of killing Daenerys, calling her an innocent child, Robert nonetheless fears that Daenerys will soon start breeding more "dragonspawn", and that Viserys will cross the narrow sea with a horde of Dothraki. Eddard convinces him that the Dothraki are not likely to cross, and that they can easily defeat them if they do.[44] The matter is laid to rest, but is brought up again when a report from Jorah arrives in King's Landing, informing the small council that Daenerys is pregnant. Robert wants Viserys, Daenerys, and her child killed, and while Eddard and Ser Barristan Selmy protest, the rest of the council agrees with Robert. In the end, it is decided that Varys will quietly let it become known that whoever kills Daenerys, her child, and Viserys will be given a lordship.[45]

At Vaes Dothrak, Daenerys is presented to the dosh khaleen, and takes part in a ceremony for her unborn child, where she eats a raw stallion heart. The dosh khaleen predict that Daenerys will have a son, who will be "the stallion who mounts the world", a long-prophesied leader destined to unite the Dothraki into a single khalasar and conquer the world. Daenerys chooses the name Rhaego for her son, after her eldest brother, Rhaegar.[15] Following the ceremony is a feast, where Mormont tells Daenerys that Viserys had planned to steal and sell her dragon eggs, which he had prevented. A drunk Viserys arrives late at the feast. Having grown increasingly impatient for Drogo to give him his army and his crown, Viserys arrives carrying a blade, which is forbidden in Vaes Dothrak. He threatens both Daenerys and her unborn child. Daenerys translates for Drogo, who tells Viserys that he will give him his crown. While his bloodriders take hold of Viserys, Drogo melts the golden medallions from his belt, and pours the molten gold over Viserys's head, giving him his golden crown. Daenerys calmly watches as Viserys pleads with her. He dies screaming.[15]

Now the last remaining Targaryen, Daenerys believes her family's throne should be conquered for her unborn son and attempts to persuade Drogo to invade the Seven Kingdoms. However, Drogo has no interest in doing so, until Daenerys is rescued by Jorah Mormont from drinking poisoned wine at the Western Market of Vaes Dothrak. They learn that King Robert I Baratheon has promised a lordship and lands to whoever kills Viserys, Daenerys, and her child. Furious, Drogo vows to conquer the Seven Kingdoms for his son.[23] Drogo leads his khalasar south, planning to take captives to sell at the cities of Slaver's Bay in exchange for ships. They encounters a Lhazareen town, which is under attack by the khalasar of Khal Ogo. They battle, and Drogo is victorious. Though most of Ogo's riders have fled, Jorah Mormont estimates that there are ten thousand captives. Daenerys is disgusted and disturbed by the sight of the Dothraki raping women, and eventually orders every rape she sees stopped, claiming the women as her own slaves to protect them. Though this angers Drogo's riders, Daenerys refuses to give them back. Drogo is pleased by Daenerys's boldness, and allows her to keep her slaves.[5]

Drogo is injured, but the healers are occupied elsewhere. When Daenerys insists that Drogo's cuts are seen to immediately, a Lhazareen godswife, Mirri Maz Duur, offers her service. Drogo's bloodriders call the woman a maegi, but Drogo agrees to accompany Mirri inside the temple, supported by Daenerys, where Mirri tends to his wounds. Afterwards, Daenerys asks Mirri to be her midwife when she goes into labor.[5] Mirri's poultice itches and burns Drogo, and he eventually tears it off, replacing it with a mud plaster. However, his wound festers, and he grows weaker and weaker until he falls from his horse. Daenerys realizes the danger in this, as a khal who cannot ride cannot rule, according to the Dothraki. Daenerys orders Drogo's bloodriders to make camp, and to pretend the command came from Drogo. She also orders Mirri Maz Duur to be brought to her. Though Qotho protests every order she gives, he leaves to fetch Mirri. Daenerys has Drogo brought into his tent, and learns that rumors of Drogo's fall are spreading through the camp when Jorah arrives. Daenerys begs Jorah to help Drogo. When they are alone, Jorah removes the mud plaster from Drogo's wound, concluding that Drogo is "as good as dead". He urges her to flee, as a power struggle among the kos will follow Drogo's death, and the victor is likely to kill Rhaego, while Daenerys will be forced to join the dosh khaleen. Daenerys refuses to leave Drogo. She protects Mirri from Qotho and Haggo, and sends Jorah to go fetch his armor, in case of trouble. Daenerys asks Mirri to heal Drogo using blood magic. Mirri warns her that some claim that death would be cleaner, and that "only death may pay for life", though she reassures Daenerys that her life is not the payment. As part of the ritual, Drogo is placed in a bath, and his horse is slain so its blood can mix with the water in the tub. Daenerys is told to prevent anyone from entering the tent during the ritual. As Mirri sings her spells, battle erupts between Drogo's bloodriders and Daenerys's khas. Rhaego begins to kick wildly inside Daenerys, and she goes into labor as men are dying around her. The birthing women refuse to attend Daenerys, and when someone suggests Mirri, Jorah lifts Daenerys up in his arms and carries her into the tent. Daenerys is too weak to protest.[28]

Daenerys wakes days later, after several fever dreams, with one of her dragon eggs in her arms, as she had requested during one of her short waking moments. Rhaego was stillborn and malformed, Daenerys learns, and had been dead for months according to Mirri, even though Daenerys had felt him strong and alive shortly before her labor had begun. Mirri reveals that Rhaego's death was the true price of the blood magic. Drogo's khalasar is gone, split into two new khalasars belonging to Khal Pono and Khal Jhaqo. Although Drogo still lives, he is in a catatonic state. Daenerys demands to know when Drogo will be as before, and Mirri replies "When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. Then he will return, and not before". She reveals that it had been wrong of Drogo's khalasar to burn her temple, and that Rhaego's death means that the stallion who mounts the world is now unable to burn cities or trample nations into dust.[35]

Daenerys orders Mirri arrested. She attempt to get a response from Drogo by pleasuring him and speaking to him, but realizes that he is truly gone.[35] She euthanizes him,[35] and has the remaining Dothraki build him a funeral pyre. She declares herself to be a queen, and states they are her khalasar now. She frees the slaves, names Jorah as a knight of her Queensguard, and Jhogo, Rakharo, and Aggo, the three men from her khas, as her kos, ignoring their refusal to be bloodrider to a woman. Daenerys places her three dragon eggs onto Drogo's funeral pyre, beside his body. She also has Mirri bound to pyre, claiming "only death can pay for life". Drogo's pyre is lit when the first star, a fire red comet, is seen in the sky. Once the entire pyre is afire, Daenerys walks into the flames. The next morning, when the flames have gone out and the ground has cooled down, her new khalasar finds her amidst the ashes, naked but unharmed, holding three living dragons, the first dragons alive since 153 AC. They all kneel and swear their oaths to Daenerys, more loyal to her than they had ever been to Drogo.[46]

A Clash of Kings

Daenerys names the three dragons Viserion (after her brother Viserys), Rhaegal (after her brother Rhaegar), and Drogon (after Drogo).[2] Daenerys had decided to follow the red comet. Although the Dothraki are convinced that it is an ill omen, Daenerys believes that it a herald of her coming, which points in the direction in which she must travel. However, she is aware of the fact that the comet's direction was the only direction in which they could have gone; To the north were too many khalasars, to the south the Lhazareen, and to the east Pono's khalasar, all hostile to them. She leads her people east, through the red waste.[2]

They eventually arrive in an abandoned city, which Daenerys dubs Vaes Tolorro. While her khalasar recovers from the terrible journey through the desert, Daenerys sends out her bloodriders to scout in every direction. Aggo and Rakharo return without hopeful news, and Daenerys begins to fortify Vaes Tolorro, in case of enemies. After a long time, Jhogo returns accompanied by three citizens from the city Qarth: the merchant Xaro Xhoan Daxos, the warlock Pyat Pree, and the shadow-binder Quaithe of Asshai.[2] They escort Daenerys and her khalasar to Qarth, where Xaro invites them to stay in his palace.[6] Daenerys learns of the death of King Robert I Baratheon and the unrest in the Seven Kingdoms.[6]

Daenerys visits the Pureborn of Qarth, hoping to convince them to help her in her conquest of the Seven Kingdoms. They refuse her, however. On her way back to Xaro's palace, Daenerys sees Quaithe, who urges Daenerys to travel to Asshai. Xaro proposes marriage to Daenerys, which Daenerys finds amusing as she has found Xaro completely uninterested in the charms of women. Jorah warns her that according to Qartheen marriage customs, Xaro would be within his rights to ask a dragon of Daenerys if they were to wed, and Daenerys would not legally be able to deny him. Not knowing where else to turn, Daenerys decides to go to the warlocks.[37]

Daenerys goes to the House of the Undying, where Pyat Pree gives her shade-of-the-evening, after which she enters the building alone. Inside, Daenerys sees several strange visions. When she reaches the hall of the Undying, they tell her that she will light three fires (one for life, one for death, and one to love), ride three mounts (one to bed, one to dread, and one to love), and face three betrayals (one for blood, one for gold, and one for love). More visions follow as the Undying attack her. Drogon sets the Undying Ones on fire, allowing Daenerys to flee. The Palace of Dust burns down. Outside Daenerys is attacked by Pyat Pree, but Jhogo, Rakharo and Drogon save her.[10]

The destruction of the Palace of Dust turns the Qartheen against her. Xaro warns Daenerys that Pyat Pree is gathering warlocks against her, and after she refuses to marry him once more, suggests that she should leave Qarth. He offers to give her ships in exchange for a dragon, and when Daenerys refuses, insists she leaves his palace. Daenerys visits the docks of Qarth to seek passage on a ship for herself, her khalasar and her dragons, but is frequently refused. Jorah warns her that they are being followed by two strangers. When a Sorrowful Man gives her a box containing a manticore with the purpose of killing her, one of the strangers knocks the manticore aside before it can sting her. The two strangers, Belwas and Arstan Whitebeard, inform Daenerys they had been sent to Qarth by Magister Illyrio with three ships to escort Daenerys and her party back to Pentos. Daenerys renames the ships Vhagar, Meraxes and Balerion, after the dragons of Aegon I Targaryen and his sister-wives, Rhaenys and Visenya, and sets sail for Pentos.[18]

A Storm of Swords

On their way to Pentos, Ser Jorah Mormont convinces Daenerys to change course to Astapor, one of the slave cities of Slaver's Bay. Mistrustful of Illyrio's motives, he believes it wise to purchase Unsullied before traveling to Illyrio, so Daenerys has an army loyal to her. He kisses her and professes his love for her, telling her that he could be one of the three heads of the dragon, as her husband.[21] Lonely since Drogo's death, Daenerys one night takes her maid Irri as a lover.[24] In Astapor, Daenerys visits the Plaza of Pride, where the rude Kraznys mo Nakloz informs Daenerys about the capabilities of the Unsullied. As Daenerys pretends she cannot understand High Valyrian, Kraznys’s scribe Missandei translates his rude remarks into respectful statements.[24] Though Arstan Whitebeard counsels against using slaves,[24] Daenerys informs the Good Masters that she wishes to all eight thousand six hundred Unsullied, as well as the five thousand boys still in training, in exchange for all her goods, ships, and Drogon.[26] The slavers agree, and give her Missandei as a gift. On their way back to the ship, Daenerys frees Missandei and gives her the option to leave her service, revealing her ability to understand and speak High Valyrian. Missandei decides to stay with Daenerys. That night, Daenerys is visited by Quaithe again, who urges her once more to go to Asshai.[26]

The next day, Daenerys goes to purchase her Unsullied. After assuming command of the soldiers, Daenerys betrays the Good Masters. She orders Drogon to attack the slavers and her Unsullied to conquer the city.[26] Daenerys frees all slaves, and leaves a council to rule the city.[47] She frees her Unsullied as well, and most decide to serve her as free men. With her new army, Daenerys marches to Yunkai.[3] Aware of the Sack of Astapor, Yunkai hires two sellsword companies, the Stormcrows and the Second Sons, to strengthen their own slave army of four thousand strong. Daenerys meets with an envoy from Yunkai, as well as with the captains from the sellsword companies. Though two of the captains of the Stormcrows are quick to refuse Daenerys, the third, Daario Naharis, is more polite. Mero, the captain of the Second Sons, behaves extremely rude in Daenerys's presence. She offers to pay more than Yunkai, and gifts him with enough wine for him and his sellswords when he promises to consider her offer. The Yunkish envoy, Grazdan mo Eraz, is the last to arrive. He offers Daenerys gold, but she refuses, and informs him that Yunkai has three days to free their slaves. If they do not, she will sack the city.[3]

Once the envoy from Yunkai has left, Daenerys reveals that she plans to attack the city that same night, while the Stormcrows are still arguing over her offer, the Second Sons are drunk on the wine she gave them, and the Yunkai'i believe they still have two more days. Shortly before the attack begins, Daario Naharis walks into the Targaryen camp. He presents Daenerys with the heads of Prendahl na Ghezn and Sallor, his fellow captains, and pledges the Stormcrows to her service.[3] While her army attacks Yunkai, Daenerys remains in the camp, and discusses her brother Rhaegar with Arstan. Her soldiers win the battle; Though Mero has escaped, thousand others are taken captive, and Daenerys agrees that any slave or sellsword who will swear loyalty to Daenerys are to be spared. Daenerys marches the last few leagues to Yunkai, and waits until the morning of the third day, when the city gates open and the slaves from Yunkai emerge, hailing her as "Mhysa", meaning "Mother" in Ghiscari.[3]

Daenerys marches further north, to Meereen. In preparation for her arrival, the Meereenese retreat behind the walls of their city after stripping their lands clean. In addition, they have nailed a hundred and sixty-three slave children onto the mileposts placed on the coast road between Yunkai and Meereen. Daenerys encamps her host, now more than eighty thousand strong (though fewer than a quarter are warriors), outside of the walls of Meereen. Belwas fights against Oznak zo Pahl, the "hero of Meereen", and easily slays him. Ben Plumm, the new commander of the Second Sons, suggests entering the city through the sewers, but Daenerys does not consider it a promising idea. She takes Missandei and Arstan into the camp of her freedmen, where she is attacked by Mero, who had been hidden among her freedmen while awaiting an opportunity to kill her. Arstan saves her life, killing Mero in the process. However, Jorah questions Arstan's ability, causing Arstan to reveal he is Ser Barristan Selmy, formerly of the Kingsguard. Barristan further reveals that Jorah has served the Iron Throne as a spy, giving them information about Viserys and Daenerys ever since her wedding to Drogo. Daenerys is furious and feels betrayed by both of them.[36] She sends them into the sewers of Meereen as part of her plan to take the city, half hoping that they'll die in their attempt. While her army breaks the gates of the city from the outside, and her archers fire arrows at the city's defenders, Jorah, Barristan, Belwas and nineteen others enter the city through the sewers to free the slaves, who then revolt.[29]

With Meereen taken, Daenerys has one hundred and sixty-three of the Great Masters nailed on posts on the plaza in front of the Great Pyramid. Though she is able to pardon Barristan Selmy, she finds herself unable to do the same for Jorah Mormont. Instead, she exiles Mormont, and warns him that he'll be killed if he returns to the city. Daenerys learns that the council she had previously installed in Astapor to rule the city has been killed and replaced by a former butcher who has declared himself king, and enslaved all the former nobility. In addition, Yunkai is gathering new levies and sending out envoys to form alliances against Daenerys. Daenerys decides that she cannot leave Meereen to suffer the same violent fate as Astapor, and informs her captains that she will stay in Meereen to learn how to rule as a Queen over one city, before conquering the Seven Kingdoms.[29]

A Feast for Crows

By now, news of Daenerys's dragons and her campaign are starting to reach Westeros. Several acolytes of the Citadel discuss the stories they have heard; Sailors speak of dragons in Asshai, Qarth, and Meereen, dragons among the Dothraki, and dragons freeing slaves. Though all the tales differ in details, all speak of dragons and a beautiful young queen.[49]Alleras points out that, though Viserys Targaryen is dead, Daenerys is still alive. Leo Tyrell informs the acolytes that Daenerys has, in fact, hatched herself three dragons.[49]

In Braavos, a drunk Dareon hears tales about dragons as well, and repeats them to maester Aemon and Samwell Tarly. Aemon becomes increasingly interested in the stories about the dragons, but is too ill to venture outside and learn about them firsthand. He requests that Samwell brings him someone who has seen the dragons. Samwell encounters Xhondo Dhoru, who had seen Daenerys and her dragons in Qarth.[55] Upon hearing Xhondo's stories, Aemon becomes convinced that Daenerys is the princess that was promised, as proven by the dragons. He insists that Samwell informs the archmaesters at the Citadel should be informed about Daenerys and the dangers at the Wall, calling Daenerys "our last hope", and believing that a maester should be send to Daenerys to give her counsel.[9] Aemon dies on the voyage to Oldtown.[9] Upon his arrival at the Citadel, Samwell encounters Alleras, who listens to his stories and brings him to Archmaester Marwyn. Marwyn decides to travel to Slaver's Bay himself, to give Daenerys his aid.[56]

A Dance with Dragons

Rumors of Daenerys's striking beauty have spread far and wide,[4] and she is said to silver-gold hair and amethyst eyes.[22] The head of a man, executed for spying on behalf of Daenerys and fermenting rebellion, is displayed on the Long Bridge of Volantis.[57]

Daenerys rules Meereen as its queen, but she faces multiple enemies. A resistance group of Ghiscari noblemen from Meereen, the Sons of the Harpy, engage in a shadow war against Daenerys, slaying freedmen, Unsullied, and shavepates during the night.[11] Daenerys orders the creation of a city watch, made up from the Meereenese themselves,[30] the Brazen Beasts,[17] and sets a reward for the Sons of the Harpy at one thousand honors.[11] To fund the Brazen Beasts, Daenerys imposes a blood tax on the noble families of Meereen, and demands two hostages from each family in an attempt to stop the killings.[30] The Sons of the Harpy, in turn, offer wealth and glory and a hundred slave girls to whoever slays Daenerys, while promising death to anyone, and their families, who serve Daenerys.[17] The murders continue, but Daenerys finds herself unable to harm any of her hostages.[32] Daenerys further has three fighting companies formed comprised from her freedmen: the Mother's Men, the Free Brothers, and the Stalwart Shields.[11][30]

Daenerys also faces the dislike from the nobility of the city, as numerous crimes had been committed during the sack, and the nobility especially have suffered losses of property and wealth.[11] However, there are also those who support Daenerys. These men have shaven their heads, abandoning the traditional hair styles of the Ghiscari culture. These men, known as shavepates, are led by Skahaz mo Kandaq, who serves Daenerys as a counselor.[11]

Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal have been growing wilder and often hunt sheep in the lands surrounding the city. Daenerys pays shepherds for the loss of their animals. However, one day at court, one man lingers after Daenerys has granted compensation to be given for the loss of twenty-three animals. After all petitioners have departed, he presents her with the burned bones of his daughter, Hazzea, saying it had been "the winged shadow".[11] Shocked by Hazzea's death, Daenerys orders her dragons captured. Viserion and Rhaegal are locked in a pit underneath the Great Pyramid where Daenerys resides, but Drogon escapes and flies off towards the Dothraki sea.[30]

Quaithe uses magic to visit Daenerys one night, when Daenerys is alone. She informs her that the glass candles are burning, and warns Daenerys about the dangers that are coming. "Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun's son and the mummer's dragon. Trust none of them. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal." After telling Daenerys her to remember who she is, Quaithe disappears.[30]

Daenerys hosts Xaro Xhoan Daxos, who offers her thirteen ships on the condition that she departs for Westeros immediately. She considers his offer, but realizes that all of her freedmen who stay behind in Meereen will either be enslaved once more or die. Unable to take all of them to Westeros with only thirteen ships, Daenerys refuses Xaro's offer, and Xaro leaves Meereen, declaring war.[17]

Galazza Galare, the Green Grace, counsels Daenerys that she should take a Meereenese noble as her husband, and proposes Hizdahr zo Loraq. Daenerys and Hizdahr come to an agreement; If he can stop the murders by the Sons of the Harpy for ninety days, they will wed. Barristan objects to the marriage, but Daenerys informs him that ninety days is a long period, and Hizdahr could still fail. However, she admits that, should Hizdahr succeed, she will wed him as she promised, for her people.[32] Before leaving, Barristan informs Daenerys that Daario Naharis has returned to the city. Having been attracted to Daario since he swore his fealty to her,[36] Daenerys insists on seeing him immediately. Daario brings her good news: negotiations with the Lhazareen have been successful, and the Lhazareen have agreed to trade with Meereen. While Daario and his Stormcrowsface the Long Lances, a sellsword company hired by Yunkai, in the Khyzai Pass, but Daario boasts that twelve of them defected to his side, while only nine of his own had died.[32] Daenerys tells Daario about the troubles within and outside of the city, and that Galazza had suggested a marriage to Hizdahr to create a peace. When Daario suggests that Daenerys should agree to a marriage only as a pretense to gather all the Great Masters and kill them, Daenerys angrily sends him and his Stormcrows away from the city once more, back to the Khyzai Pass.[32]

Ships from Qarth, Tolos, and New Ghis, and even Meereenese ships which had fled when Daenerys first took the city have blocked the harbor. Without any ships of her own, nor wood to build new ships, Daenerys cannot battle them. Hizdahr has been successful thus far in preventing new murders, causing Skahaz mo Kandaq to suspect him of being the Harpy. Daenerys refuses to allow him to torture Hizdahr.[58] Astapori refugees travel to Meereen. The first Astapori to reach the city is infected with the bloody flux, soon known as "the pale mare". More of the surviving Astapori on their way to Meereen have the contagious disease. Daenerys follows the advice of her counselors and does not allow the refugees to enter the city,[58] but instead has them camp outside the walls.[38]

The Yunkai'i are in contact with Hizdahr zo Loraq, and inform him that they are willing to give Meereen peace, but they require gold from Daenerys, as well as an agreement that the Yunkai'i can resume slaving and Astapor will be a slaver city once again, without Daenerys's interference. The agreements are to be sealed by Daenerys's marriage to Hizdahr.[38] Daario returns to Meereen, informing Daenerys that the Second Sons have joined Yunkai, but that some deserters from the Windblown have come over to their side.[38] With four sellsword companies, six Ghiscari legions, Qartheen camelry, and Tolosi slingers on their way to Meereen, Daenerys has no choice but to close her gates. Finally giving in to her desires, Daenerys takes Daario as her lover once they are alone.[38] The day before her wedding to Hizdahr, Daario introduces her to the men who have defected from the Windblown. One of them reveals himself to be Quentyn Martell of Dorne, who brings with him a secret marriage pact signed by his uncle on behalf of Dorne and Ser Willem Darry on behalf of Viserys, promising the hand of Quentyn's sister Arianne to Viserys in marriage, in exchange for Dorne's support. With Viserys dead, Quentyn offers himself in marriage to Daenerys. While Barristan sees the offer as a hopeful option, Daenerys rejects him and marries Hizdahr after ninety days of peace inside the city.[25] When Quentyn informs Daenerys that the other deserters are spies send by the Tattered Prince, Daenerys has them imprisoned.

Hizdahr invites the captains from the Yunkish army into Meereen, to sign the peace treaty and celebrate the opening of the fighting pits. Hostages from Meereen have been sent into the Yunkish camp, to ensure the captains remain unharmed. Daenerys hates everything about the feast. After a confrontation with Ben Plumm, Daenerys orders Barristan Selmy to free Meris and send her back to the Windblown, hoping to convince the Windblown to abandon Yunkai. Daenerys next takes Quentyn to see her dragons, and urges him to return home.[59] The next day, Barristan reports that the Tattered Prince is willing to join Daenerys in return for Pentos, but Daenerys is unwilling to help him take the city. She goes to Daznak's Pit for the gladiator fights. Belwas consumes poisoned locusts which Hizdahr had been urging Daenerys to eat, while Daenerys grows disgusted with the day's events. Just as she is about to leave, Belwas falls sick to his knees, and Drogon returns to the city, landing in the pit to feed on the body of the slain Barsena. The crowd panics, and one man attacks Drogon with his spear. Daenerys rushes to Drogon's side, mounts the dragon, and rides on his back as he flies out of the arena.[31]

In Meereen, many fear that Daenerys has died,[60] and chaos returns to the city as several plots collide. Daenerys still lives, however. Drogon has flown her to a hill in the Dothraki sea, which she dubs Dragonstone, after the island on which she had been born. She eventually decides to return to Meereen, but is unable to get Drogon to follow her commands, leading to her traveling on foot. She begins to fall ill; Her stomach is cramping, she is retching up green slime, and has diarrhea. She dreams of Viserys, and wakes with her thighs covered in blood. She spots Drogon and calls him to her side, and the dragon obeys. Khal Jhaqo and his khalasar eventually find Daenerys standing next to her dragon.[61]

Do you know what it is like to be sold, squire? I do. My brother sold me to KhalDrogo for the promise of a golden crown. Well, Drogo crowned him in gold, though not as he had wished, and I... my sun-and-stars made a queen of me, but if he had been a different man, it might have been much otherwise. Do you think I have forgotten how it felt to be afraid?[24]

Mother of dragons, Daenerys thought. Mother of monsters. What have I unleashed upon the world? A queen I am, but my throne is made of burned bones, and it rests on quicksand. Without dragons, how could she hope to hold Meereen, much less win back Westeros? I am the blood of the dragon, she thought. If they are monsters, so am I.[30]

Daenerys: It is such a long way. I was tired, Jorah. I was weary of war. I wanted to rest, to laugh, to plant trees and see them grow. I am only a young girl.Jorah: No. You are the blood of the dragon. Dragons plant no trees. Remember that. Remember who you are, what you were made to be. Remember your words.

You are her perfect prince, agreed, bright and bold and comely as any maid could wish. Daenerys Targaryen is no maid, however. She is the widow of a Dothraki khal, a mother of dragons and a sacker of cities, Aegon the Conqueror with teats. She may not prove as willing as you wish.[8]

I know that she spent her childhood in exile, impoverished, living on dreams and schemes, running from one city to the next, always fearful, never safe, friendless but for a brother who was by all accounts half-mad... a brother who sold her maidenhood to the Dothraki for the promise of an army. I know that somewhere upon the grass, her dragons hatched, and so did she. I know she is proud. How not? What else was left her but pride? I know she is strong. How not? The Dothraki despise weakness. If Daenerys had been weak, she would have perished with Viserys. I know she is fierce. Astapor, Yunkai and Meereen are proof enough of that. She has survived assassins and conspiracies and fell sorceries, grieved for a brother and a husband and a son, trod the cities of the slavers to dust beneath her dainty sandaled feet.[8]